JP6847532B2 - Foam widget - Google Patents

Description

The present invention mainly relates to an effervescent widget that is encapsulated together with a beverage in a beverage container to efficiently foam the beverage.

Conventionally, as a foaming widget for encapsulating a beverage together with a beverage mainly in a beverage container and foaming the beverage when the valve is opened, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a chamber for holding a gas is drawn. The upper molded body 2 and the lower molded body 3 to be formed, the first one-way duck bill valve 4 that allows gas to enter the chamber, and the second one that ejects gas from the inside of the chamber into the beverage when the container is opened. It has a duck bill valve 5, a first duck bill valve 4 is provided integrally with an upper molded body 2 at the bottom of a down pipe 6, and a second duck bill valve 5 is integrally provided with a lower molded body 3. Are known.

According to such a foaming widget, when the beverage container is opened, the gas in the chamber can be ejected to foam the beverage.

Special Table 2002-544802

However, in the conventional foaming widget as described in Patent Document 1, when the beverage container is opened, the gas in the chamber is suddenly released from the lower second duck bill valve, and the foam is generated. In some cases, the generation efficiency was poor and good foam quality could not be obtained.

The present invention has been developed in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a foaming widget capable of efficiently foaming a beverage when the beverage container is opened.

The foaming widget of the present invention
The chamber that forms the gas storage space and
An effervescent widget with a ejection hole formed in the lower part of the chamber.
The chamber has an intake flow extending downward from the upper part of the chamber and extending upward from the lower part of the chamber to allow the introduction of gas from the outside between the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder part. It has a central pillar that forms a road,
Due to the positive pressure in the chamber, the central cylinder portion moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion, so that a part of the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion. The intake flow path is blocked.

In the above configuration, the foaming widget of the present invention preferably has a flow path area of the intake flow path larger than the flow path area of the ejection hole.

In the above configuration, the foaming widget of the present invention preferably includes an upper chamber having the central cylinder portion and a lower chamber having the central pillar portion.

In the above configuration, the foaming widget of the present invention is provided with a recess forming the intake flow path on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion. Is preferable.

In the above configuration, the foaming widget of the present invention has an inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder or an outer peripheral surface of the central pillar, and an outer peripheral surface of the central pillar or an inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder facing the inner peripheral surface of the central pillar. It is preferable that a protruding portion is formed that abuts and closes the intake flow path.

In the above configuration, the foaming widget of the present invention has a pair of fitting portions in which the upper chamber and the lower chamber are slidably fitted to each other, and the upper chamber is subjected to a positive pressure in the chamber. It is preferable that the central cylinder portion moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion by moving the fitting portion on the side upward with respect to the fitting portion on the lower chamber side.

In the foaming widget of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the pair of fitting portions have an engaging portion that restricts the upward movement of the upper chamber.

In the above configuration, in the above-mentioned configuration, the outer shell portion above the chamber is elastically deformed by the positive pressure in the chamber, so that the central cylinder portion is upward with respect to the central pillar portion. It is preferable to move.

In the foaming widget of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the outer shell portion above the chamber is inclined downward in a stepwise manner toward the outer side in the radial direction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a foaming widget capable of efficiently foaming a beverage when the beverage container is opened.

A state in which the upper chamber is moved by the positive pressure in the accommodation space in (a) front half sectional view and (b) (a) of the foaming widget according to the first embodiment of the present invention to block the intake flow path. It is a front enlarged sectional view which shows. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of foaming a beverage in a beverage container by the foaming widget which concerns on 1st to 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The upper chamber of the foaming widget according to the second embodiment of the present invention due to the positive pressure in the accommodation space in (a) an enlarged front sectional view, (b) and (a) a detailed view of part A, and (c) and (a). It is a front enlarged cross-sectional view which shows the state which is moving and the intake flow path is blocked. In the (a) front enlarged cross-sectional view and (b) (a) of the foaming widget according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the upper chamber is deformed by the positive pressure in the accommodation space and the intake flow path is blocked. It is a front enlarged sectional view which shows.

Hereinafter, the foaming widget 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) and FIG.

In the present specification, the vertical direction is based on the vertical direction of FIGS. 1A and 1B, with the side on which the central cylinder portion 14 is arranged along the axis O of the container upward and the central pillar portion 24. The side on which is placed is on the bottom.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the foaming widget 100 according to the present embodiment has an upper chamber 10 having a central cylinder portion 14, a central pillar portion 24, and a lower chamber having an ejection hole 22a for ejecting gas. It has 20 and. The upper chamber 10 and the lower chamber 20 form a chamber 1 that forms an accommodation space S1 for accommodating gas.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the upper chamber 10 has a thin outer shell portion 12 having a hollow substantially hemispherical shape, and a cylindrical central cylinder that hangs downward at the upper end portion thereof. The portions 14 are connected. A central pillar portion 24, which will be described later, is loosely fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 14 from below. In the initial state shown in FIG. 1A, the looseness referred to here means that the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 14 is larger than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 24, and the central cylinder portion 14 A state in which the inner peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 24 and the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 24 are not in contact with each other, or even if there is contact due to a tolerance of a member or the like, the inner peripheral surface thereof can be easily slidable in the vertical direction. An intake flow path 14a capable of supplying gas from the outside (beverage container) into the accommodation space S1 is formed in the gap region between the two.

A protruding portion 14b that projects inward in the radial direction is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion of the central tubular portion 14. The projecting portion 14b enters the recess 24c formed on the upper side surface of the central pillar portion 24 as shown in FIG. 1A in the initial state where there is no pressure difference between the accommodating space S1 and the outside. The gap region between the recess 24c and the protrusion 14b also constitutes an intake flow path 14a capable of supplying gas into the accommodation space S1.

A cylindrical peripheral wall 16 extending vertically is formed at the outer peripheral end of the upper chamber 10 along the outer shell portion 12, and a fitting portion 13 is formed at the lower end portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 1A, the fitting portion 13 is formed to be thicker than the outer shell portion 12, and is formed from the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13a, the flat lower surface 13b, and the inner peripheral surface 13a. It has an engaging protrusion 13c (engaging portion) that protrudes inward in the radial direction. Then, in the initial state, the inner peripheral surface 13a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface 26a of the fitting step portion 26 (fitting portion) of the lower chamber 20, and the lower surface 13b is in contact with the upper surface 26b of the fitting step portion 26. As a result, the upper chamber 10 is positioned with respect to the lower chamber 20. In the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 13a of the fitting portion 13 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 26a of the fitting step portion 26, and is fitted with the inner peripheral surface 13a of the fitting portion 13. The fitting of the step portion 26 with the outer peripheral surface 26a constitutes a so-called clearance fitting. When the pressure in the accommodation space S1 becomes higher than the outside, as shown in FIG. 1B, the inner peripheral surface 13a slides in the direction of the white arrow with respect to the outer peripheral surface 26a, so that the upper chamber 10 is lowered. It is configured to be movable upward with respect to the side chamber 20.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the lower chamber 20 has an outer shell portion 22 having a side surface shape of a cone that inclines slightly upward in the radial direction, and the lower chamber 20 has an outer shell portion 22 having an outer surface shape that is slightly upwardly inclined toward the outside in the radial direction. The extending columnar central pillar portion 24 is connected. A bottomed hole 24b is formed in the central pillar portion 24 from the center of the upper end portion downward, and the radial outer side of the bottomed hole 24b is a tip portion forming an intake flow path 14a with the central cylinder portion 14. It is 24a. Further, immediately below the tip portion 24a, a recess 24c that is recessed inward in the radial direction and extends in the vertical direction is formed. In the initial state shown in FIG. 1A, the protruding portion 14b of the central cylinder portion 14 enters the recess 24c, and the gap region between the protruding portion 14b and the recess 24c also forms the intake flow path 14a. The gas introduced from the outside (beverage container) through the intake flow path 14a is filled in the accommodation space S1.

The flow path area of the intake flow path 14a refers to the cross-sectional area of the smallest portion of the cross-sectional area of the flow path. In the example of FIG. 1A, the cross-sectional area of the gap region between the tip portion 24a and the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 14 and the cross-sectional area of the gap region between the recess 24c and the protrusion 14b, whichever is smaller. The cross-sectional area of is the flow path area of the intake flow path 14a.

On the radial outer side of the central pillar portion 24 in the outer shell portion 22 of the lower chamber 20, there is a ejection hole 22a having a flow path area smaller than that of the intake flow path 14a and ejecting the gas in the accommodation space S1 into the beverage. It is provided. The ejection hole 22a communicates with the intake flow path 14a via the accommodation space S1.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a peripheral wall 23 extending upward is connected to the outer peripheral end of the outer shell portion 22. Further, a fitting step portion 26 is formed at the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 23 as described above. As shown in FIG. 1A, the fitting step portion 26 has an outer peripheral surface 26a which is a cylindrical surface and an upper surface 26b which is orthogonal to the outer peripheral surface 26a and further extends outward in the radial direction. Then, the outer peripheral surface 26a is fitted to the inner peripheral surface 13a of the upper chamber 10, and the upper surface 26b is in contact with the lower surface 13b of the upper chamber 10, so that the fitting step portion 26 is positioned with respect to the fitting portion 13. ing.

An engagement recess 26d (engagement portion) into which the engagement protrusion 13c of the fitting portion 13 enters is formed in the vertical center portion of the outer peripheral surface 26a of the fitting step portion 26.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, each part of the lower chamber 20 is formed thicker than that of the upper chamber 10, and the mass of the lower chamber 20 is the mass of the upper chamber 10. Greater. By configuring the lower chamber 20 to have a mass larger than that of the upper chamber 10 in this way, the position of the center of gravity of the foaming widget 100 shifts toward the lower chamber 20. As a result, when the effervescent widget 100 is floated in the beverage, the lower chamber 20 is located below and the ejection hole 22a is located below the liquid level of the beverage. Therefore, as will be described later, when the beverage container is opened, the gas in the accommodation space S1 is always injected into the beverage through the ejection hole 22a. Therefore, the beverage can be reliably foamed.

In the present embodiment, the lower chamber 20 is formed thicker than the upper chamber 10 so that the mass of the lower chamber 20 is larger than that of the upper chamber 10, but the present embodiment is limited to this embodiment. However, for example, by using a material having a large specific gravity for the lower chamber 20, the mass of the lower chamber 20 may be larger than the mass of the upper chamber 10.

In the present embodiment, the beverage to be filled in the beverage container is preferably a frothy beverage such as beer or a carbonated beverage, but the beverage is not limited to this, and various other liquid beverages may be filled. Can be done.

Further, in the present embodiment, the outer shell portion 22 of the lower chamber 20 is configured to have a flatter shape than the outer shell portion 12 of the upper chamber 10. Thereby, the floating posture of the foaming widget 100 can be further stabilized. Further, as compared with the case where the outer shell portions 12 and 22 are both hemispherically formed, the floating height of the foaming widget 100 when the same accommodation space S1 is secured can be lowered. Therefore, the height of the head space when the foaming widget 100 is housed in the beverage container can be reduced.

As the material of the upper chamber 10 and the lower chamber 20, for example, synthetic resins such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and nylon can be used, but the materials are limited to these materials. It is not something that is done.

Next, the procedure for foaming the beverage in the beverage container by the foaming widget 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when filling a beverage container (not shown), the effervescent widget 100 of the present embodiment is put into the beverage container together with the beverage (step S101 in FIG. 2). As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the effervescent widget 100 is made of a thin synthetic resin material to reduce the weight, and is contained in the storage space S1 immediately after being put into the beverage container. It is filled with air. Therefore, the effervescent widget 100 obtains sufficient buoyancy and floats on the surface of the beverage. Since the lower chamber 20 has a larger mass than the upper chamber 10, the foaming widget 100 can maintain the posture in which the lower chamber 20 is located downward on the surface of the beverage. Here, when the beverage is a carbonated beverage, carbon dioxide gas or carbon dioxide gas and liquid nitrogen are added together with the beverage. If the beverage is not a carbonated beverage, for example liquid nitrogen is added. When the beverage, the effervescent widget 100 and the gas are put into the beverage container, the lid is attached (step S102).

When the beverage container is sealed with the lid, the pressure inside the container increases due to the gas inside the beverage container (step S103). Due to the increase in the pressure inside the beverage container, the pressure outside (inside the beverage container) becomes higher than the pressure inside the accommodation space S1 of the foaming widget 100, so that the gas inside the beverage container becomes the central cylinder portion. It is introduced into the accommodation space S1 from the upper end of the 14 via the intake flow path 14a (step S104). At this time, there is a path through which the liquid beverage enters the accommodation space S1 through the ejection hole 22a, but in the present embodiment, the flow path area of the ejection hole 22a is smaller than the flow path area of the intake flow path 14a. It is configured. In addition, the liquid beverage has a larger flow resistance when passing through the flow path than the gas in the beverage container which is a gas. Therefore, very little beverage enters the accommodation space S1 from the ejection hole 22a, and most of the accommodation space S1 is filled with the gas in the beverage container. In the process of filling the storage space S1 with gas, the pressure in the storage space S1 of the foaming widget 100 does not exceed the pressure in the beverage container. Then, the pressure in the accommodation space S1 and the pressure in the beverage container converge to an equilibrium state (step S105).

The beverage container is then opened by the consumer (step S106). As a result, the pressure inside the beverage container is released to atmospheric pressure at once. At this time, the pressure in the accommodation space S1 becomes higher than the pressure in the beverage container. That is, a positive pressure is generated in the accommodation space S1 of the chamber 1. Since the outer shell portion 12 of the upper chamber 10 is pressed upward by the positive pressure in the accommodation space S1, the fitting portion 13 of the upper chamber 10 receives a force in the direction of separating upward with respect to the fitting step portion 26. It works. As a result, the inner peripheral surface 13a of the fitting portion 13 and the outer peripheral surface 26a of the fitting step portion 26, which are configured by the clearance fitting, slide with each other and are fitted as shown by the white arrows in FIG. 1 (b). The portion 13 moves upward relative to the fitting step portion 26. Then, the engaging protrusion 13c is positioned when it comes into contact with the upper end of the engaging recess 26d (state of FIG. 1B). At this time, the central cylinder portion 14 of the upper chamber 10 also moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion 24, and the protruding portion 14b of the central cylinder portion 14 presses the upper end portion of the recess 24c. As a result, the intake flow path 14a is closed (step S107), and the gas under positive pressure in the accommodation space S1 is ejected from the ejection hole 22a into the beverage at a predetermined flow rate (step S108). The predetermined flow rate referred to here does not necessarily mean a constant flow rate, but is a flow rate suitable for forming bubbles, which is determined by the flow path area of the ejection hole 22a.

When the gas is ejected into the beverage, the beverage is agitated and the gas dissolved in the beverage is also vaporized to form a large number of fine bubbles (step S109). These foams rise toward the headspace of the beverage container, forming a layer of foam on top of the beverage (step S110).

In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 14b is formed on the central cylinder portion 14 side, and the concave portion 24c is formed on the central pillar portion 24 side, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The protrusion may be formed on the central pillar portion 24 side and the concave portion may be formed on the central cylinder portion 14 side.

Further, in the present embodiment, the engaging protrusion 13c is formed in the fitting portion 13 on the upper chamber 10 side, and the engaging recess 26d is formed in the fitting step portion 26 on the lower chamber 20 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. An engaging recess may be formed in the fitting portion 13 on the upper chamber 10 side, and an engaging protrusion may be formed in the fitting step 26 on the lower chamber 20 side.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the chamber 1 forming the gas accommodating space S1 and the ejection hole 22a formed in the lower part of the chamber 1 are provided, and the central cylinder portion 14 is provided by the positive pressure in the chamber 1. Moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion 24, so that a part of the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 14 (protruding portion 14b) is formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 24 (upper end portion of the recess 24c). It is configured so that the intake flow path 14a is blocked by contact with each other. As a result, bubbles can be generated in the beverage simply by opening the beverage container without pouring the beverage into a glass or the like. Further, when the beverage is poured into a glass or the like, bubbles having the same appearance as those poured out from the barrel can be formed. In particular, in the present embodiment, the valve is not provided on the ejection hole 22a side, and the flow path area of the ejection hole 22a is configured to be smaller than the flow path area of the intake flow path 14a. Therefore, unlike the case where the valve is provided on the ejection hole 22a side, the gas in the accommodation space S1 does not suddenly eject due to the opening of the valve when the beverage container is opened. Therefore, the gas can be ejected at a flow rate suitable for generating bubbles, which corresponds to the flow path area of the ejection hole 22a.

Further, in the present embodiment, the chamber 1 is configured to include an upper chamber 10 having a central tubular portion 14 and a lower chamber 20 having a central pillar portion 24. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the chamber 1 is increased, and the position of the center of gravity of the chamber 1, the shape and arrangement of the intake flow path 14a and the ejection hole 22a can be arbitrarily set.

Further, in the present embodiment, the concave portion 24c forming the intake flow path 14a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 24. As a result, the intake flow path 14a can be opened and closed by moving the upper chamber 10 due to the pressure fluctuation in the accommodation space S1 without providing the movable valve body.

Further, in the present embodiment, a protruding portion 14b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 14 so as to abut on the outer peripheral surface of the facing central pillar portion 24 and close the intake flow path 14a. As a result, when a positive pressure is generated in the accommodation space S1 of the chamber 1, the intake flow path 14a can be reliably closed and the gas in the accommodation space S1 can be ejected from the ejection hole 22a.

Further, in the present embodiment, the upper chamber 10 and the lower chamber 20 are a pair of fitting portions (fitting portion 13 and fitting step portion 26) that are slidably fitted to each other in the outer shell portions 12 and 22 respectively. The fitting portion 13 on the upper chamber 10 side moves upward with respect to the fitting step portion 26 on the lower chamber 20 side due to the positive pressure in the chamber 1, so that the central cylinder portion 14 becomes the central column. It was configured to move upward with respect to the portion 24. As a result, the intake flow path 14a can be opened and closed by the pressure fluctuation in the accommodation space S1 without providing a movable portion other than the pair of fitting portions. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the foaming widget 100 can be provided at low cost.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pair of fitting portions are configured to have an engaging portion (engaging protrusion 13c and engaging recess 26d) that restricts the upward movement of the upper chamber 10. As a result, it is possible to prevent the pair of fitting portions from sliding without limitation due to the positive pressure in the accommodation space S1 and preventing one from falling off from the other.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C, the foaming widget 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the foaming widget 200 according to the present embodiment has an upper chamber 40 having a central cylinder portion 44, a central pillar portion 54, and a lower chamber having an ejection hole 52a for ejecting gas. It has 50 and. The upper chamber 40 and the lower chamber 50 form a chamber 31 that forms an accommodation space S2 for accommodating gas.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the upper chamber 40 has a thin outer shell portion 42 having a substantially hemispherical shape, and a cylindrical central cylinder that hangs downward at the upper end portion thereof. The portions 44 are connected. A central pillar portion 54, which will be described later, is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 44 from below.

A protruding portion 44b that protrudes inward in the radial direction is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion of the central tubular portion 44. The projecting portion 44b enters the recess 54c formed on the side surface of the central pillar portion 54 as shown in FIG. 3B in the initial state where there is no pressure difference between the accommodating space S2 and the outside. The gap region between the recess 54c and the protrusion 44b constitutes an intake flow path 44a capable of supplying gas into the accommodation space S2.

A cylindrical peripheral wall 46 extending vertically is formed at the outer peripheral end of the upper chamber 40 along the outer shell portion 42, and a fitting portion 43 is formed at the lower end portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 3A, the fitting portion 43 is formed to be thicker than the outer shell portion 42, and is formed from a cylindrical inner peripheral surface 43a, a flat lower surface 43b, and an inner peripheral surface 43a. It has an engaging protrusion 43c (engaging portion) that protrudes inward in the radial direction. Then, in the initial state, the inner peripheral surface 43a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface 56a of the fitting step portion 56 (fitting portion) of the lower chamber 50, and the lower surface 43b is in contact with the upper surface 56b of the fitting step portion 56. As a result, the upper chamber 40 is positioned with respect to the lower chamber 50. In the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 43a of the fitting portion 43 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 56a of the fitting step portion 56, and is fitted with the inner peripheral surface 43a of the fitting portion 43. The fitting of the step portion 56 with the outer peripheral surface 56a constitutes a so-called clearance fitting. When the pressure inside the accommodation space S2 becomes higher than the outside, as shown in FIG. 3C, the inner peripheral surface 43a slides in the direction of the white arrow with respect to the outer peripheral surface 56a, so that the upper chamber 40 is lowered. It is configured to be movable upward with respect to the side chamber 50.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the lower chamber 50 has an outer shell portion 52 having a side surface shape of a cone that inclines slightly upward in the radial direction, and the lower chamber 50 has an outer shell portion 52 having an outer surface shape that inclines slightly upward in the radial direction. The extending columnar central pillar portion 54 is connected. The upper end of the central pillar portion 54 has a substantially conical shape. Further, on the side surface of the central pillar portion 54, a recess 54c that is recessed inward in the radial direction and extends in the vertical direction is formed at a position facing the protruding portion 44b (see FIG. 3B). In the initial state shown in FIG. 3A, the protruding portion 44b of the central cylinder portion 44 enters the recess 54c, and the gap region between the protruding portion 44b and the recess 54c is an intake flow path as shown in detail in FIG. 3B. It forms 44a. The gas introduced from the outside (beverage container) through the intake flow path 44a is filled in the accommodation space S2.

The flow path area of the intake flow path 44a refers to the cross-sectional area of the smallest portion of the cross-sectional area of the flow path.

On the radial outer side of the central pillar portion 54 in the outer shell portion 52 of the lower chamber 50, there is a ejection hole 52a having a flow path area smaller than that of the intake flow path 44a and ejecting the gas in the accommodation space S2 into the beverage. It is provided. The ejection hole 52a communicates with the intake flow path 44a via the accommodation space S2.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a peripheral wall 53 extending upward is connected to the outer peripheral end of the outer shell portion 52. Further, a fitting step portion 56 is formed at the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 53 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3A, the fitting step portion 56 has an outer peripheral surface 56a which is a cylindrical surface and an upper surface 56b which is orthogonal to the outer peripheral surface 56a and further extends outward in the radial direction. Then, the outer peripheral surface 56a is fitted to the inner peripheral surface 43a of the upper chamber 40, and the upper surface 56b is in contact with the lower surface 43b of the upper chamber 40, so that the fitting step portion 56 is positioned with respect to the fitting portion 43. ing.

An engaging recess 56d (engagement portion) into which the engaging protrusion 43c of the fitting portion 43 enters is formed at the central portion in the vertical direction on the outer peripheral surface 56a of the fitting step portion 56.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, each part of the lower chamber 50 is formed thicker than that of the upper chamber 40, and the lower chamber 50 is formed. Is greater than the mass of the upper chamber 40. By configuring the lower chamber 50 to be larger than the mass of the upper chamber 40 in this way, when the foaming widget 200 is floated in the beverage, the ejection hole 52a is located below the liquid level of the beverage. become. Therefore, when the beverage container is opened, the gas in the accommodation space S2 is always injected into the beverage through the ejection hole 52a, and the beverage can be reliably foamed.

Further, as the beverage to be filled in the beverage container, a foaming beverage such as beer or a carbonated beverage is suitable as in the first embodiment. Further, also in the present embodiment, when the foaming widget 200 is housed in the beverage container by configuring the outer shell portion 52 of the lower chamber 50 to have a flatter shape than the outer shell portion 42 of the upper chamber 40. The height of the head space can be reduced.

The procedure for foaming the beverage in the beverage container by the foaming widget 200 according to the present embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment except for steps S104 and S107 in FIG. Therefore, here, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

When the pressure inside the beverage container rises due to the attachment of the lid to the beverage container (step S102 in FIG. 2) (step S103), the pressure inside the accommodation space S2 of the foaming widget 200 is outside (inside the beverage container). Since the pressure in the beverage container is higher, the gas in the beverage container is introduced into the accommodation space S2 from the upper end of the central cylinder portion 44 via the intake flow path 44a (step S104). At this time, there is a path through which the liquid beverage enters the accommodation space S2 through the ejection hole 52a, but in the present embodiment, the flow path area of the ejection hole 52a is smaller than the channel area of the intake flow path 44a. It is configured. In addition, the liquid beverage has a larger flow resistance when passing through the flow path than the gas in the beverage container which is a gas. Therefore, very little beverage enters the accommodation space S2 from the ejection hole 52a, and most of the accommodation space S2 is filled with the gas in the beverage container.

When the beverage container is opened by the consumer (step S106), the pressure inside the beverage container is released to atmospheric pressure at once. At this time, the pressure in the accommodation space S2 becomes higher than the pressure in the beverage container, and a positive pressure is generated in the accommodation space S2 of the chamber 31. Since the outer shell portion 42 of the upper chamber 40 is pressed upward by the positive pressure in the accommodation space S2, the fitting portion 43 with respect to the fitting step portion 56 as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 3 (c). Move relatively upwards. Then, the engaging protrusion 43c is positioned when it comes into contact with the upper end of the engaging recess 56d (state of FIG. 3C). At this time, the central cylinder portion 44 of the upper chamber 40 also moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion 54, and the protruding portion 44b of the central cylinder portion 44 comes into contact with the side surface of the central pillar portion 54 above the recess 54c (FIG. 3 (c)). As a result, the intake flow path 44a is closed (step S107), and the gas under positive pressure in the accommodation space S2 is ejected from the ejection hole 52a into the beverage at a predetermined flow rate (step S108). The fitting of the protruding portion 44b and the side surface of the central pillar portion 54 is such that the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the protruding portion 44b is larger than the diameter of the side surface of the central pillar portion 54, and the protrusions 44b move up and down with a small sliding resistance. It is composed of a slidable clearance fit. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 3C, although there is a possibility that gas leaks from a very small gap between the protruding portion 44b and the side surface of the central pillar portion 54, almost all the gas in the accommodation space S2 is released. , Is ejected into the beverage from the ejection hole 52a.

In the present embodiment, the protrusion 44b is formed on the central cylinder portion 44 side, and the recess 54c is formed on the central pillar portion 54 side, but the present embodiment is not limited to this embodiment. The protrusion may be formed on the central pillar 54 side and the recess may be formed on the central cylinder 44 side.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the foaming widget 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the foaming widget 300 according to the present embodiment has an upper chamber 70 having a central cylinder portion 74, a central pillar portion 84, and a lower chamber having an ejection hole 82a for ejecting gas. It has 80 and. The upper chamber 70 and the lower chamber 80 form a chamber 61 that forms an accommodation space S3 for accommodating gas.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper chamber 70 has a thin outer shell portion 72 that inclines downward in a stepwise manner toward the outside in the radial direction, and the upper end portion thereof hangs downward. Cylindrical central tubular portion 74 is connected. A central pillar portion 84, which will be described later, is loosely fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 74 from below. In the initial state shown in FIG. 4A, the looseness here means that the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 74 is larger than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 84, and the central cylinder portion 74 A state in which the inner peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 84 is not in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 84, or even if there is contact due to a tolerance of a member or the like, the inner peripheral surface of the central pillar portion 84 can be easily slidable in the vertical direction. An intake flow path 74a capable of supplying gas from the outside (beverage container) into the accommodation space S3 is formed in the gap region between the two.

The outer shell portion 72 can be easily deformed by the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the accommodation space S3. For example, when a positive pressure is generated in the accommodation space S3, the outer shell portion 72 is displaced upward toward the inner side in the radial direction with reference to the fitting portion 73. As a result, the central cylinder portion 74 can move upward with respect to the central pillar portion 84.

A protruding portion 74b that protrudes inward in the radial direction is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion of the central tubular portion 74. The projecting portion 74b enters the recess 84c formed on the upper side surface of the central pillar portion 84 as shown in FIG. 4A in the initial state where there is no pressure difference between the accommodating space S3 and the outside. The gap region between the recess 84c and the protrusion 74b also constitutes an intake flow path 74a capable of supplying gas into the accommodation space S3.

A cylindrical peripheral wall 76 extending vertically is formed at the outer peripheral end of the upper chamber 70 along the outer shell portion 72, and a fitting portion 73 is formed at the lower end portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 4A, the fitting portion 73 is formed to be thicker than the outer shell portion 72, and is formed from a cylindrical inner peripheral surface 73a, a flat lower surface 73b, and an inner peripheral surface 73a. It has an engaging protrusion 73c (engaging portion) that protrudes inward in the radial direction. Then, the inner peripheral surface 73a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface 86a in the fitting step portion 86 (fitting portion) of the lower chamber 80, and the lower surface 73b is in contact with the upper surface 86b of the fitting step portion 86, so that the upper surface is raised. The chamber 70 is fixed to the lower chamber 80. In the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 73a of the fitting portion 73 is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 86a of the fitting step portion 86, and is fitted with the inner peripheral surface 73a of the fitting portion 73. The fitting of the step portion 86 with the outer peripheral surface 86a constitutes a so-called tightening fit. Further, the engaging protrusion 73c of the upper chamber 70 is undercut engaged with the upper end portion of the engaging recess 86d (engaging portion) of the lower chamber 80. With these configurations, the upper chamber 70 is firmly fixed to the lower chamber 80.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the lower chamber 80 has an outer shell portion 82 having a side surface shape of a cone that inclines slightly upward in the radial direction, and the lower chamber 80 has an outer shell portion 82 having a side surface shape of a cone that inclines slightly upward in the radial direction. The extending columnar central pillar portion 84 is connected. A bottomed hole 84b is formed in the central pillar portion 84 downward from the center of the upper end portion thereof, and the radial outer side of the bottomed hole 84b is a tip portion forming an intake flow path 74a with the central cylinder portion 74. It is 84a. Further, just below the tip portion 84a, a recess 84c that is recessed inward in the radial direction and extends in the vertical direction is formed. In the initial state shown in FIG. 4A, the protruding portion 74b of the central cylinder portion 74 enters the recess 84c, and the gap region between the protruding portion 74b and the recess 84c also forms the intake flow path 74a. The gas introduced from the outside (beverage container) through the intake flow path 74a is filled in the accommodation space S3.

The flow path area of the intake flow path 74a refers to the cross-sectional area of the smallest portion of the cross-sectional area of the flow path. In the example of FIG. 4A, the cross-sectional area of the gap region between the tip portion 84a and the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion 74 and the cross-sectional area of the gap region between the recess 84c and the protrusion 74b, whichever is smaller. The cross-sectional area of is the flow path area of the intake flow path 74a.

On the radial outer side of the central pillar portion 84 in the outer shell portion 82 of the lower chamber 80, there is a ejection hole 82a having a flow path area smaller than that of the intake flow path 74a and ejecting the gas in the accommodation space S3 into the beverage. It is provided. The ejection hole 82a communicates with the intake flow path 74a via the accommodation space S3.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a peripheral wall 83 extending upward is connected to the outer peripheral end of the outer shell portion 82. Further, a fitting step portion 86 is formed at the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 83 as described above. As shown in FIG. 4A, the fitting step portion 86 has an outer peripheral surface 86a which is a cylindrical surface and an upper surface 86b which is orthogonal to the outer peripheral surface 86a and further extends outward in the radial direction. Then, as described above, the outer peripheral surface 86a fits into the inner peripheral surface 73a of the upper chamber 70, the upper surface 86b abuts on the lower surface 73b of the upper chamber 70, and the engaging protrusion 73c of the upper chamber 70 is further lowered. The fitting step portion 86 is firmly fixed to the fitting portion 73 by undercut engagement with the upper end portion of the engagement recess 86d of the side chamber 80.

In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 86a and the inner peripheral surface 73a are fixed by tightening, but the present embodiment is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the upper chamber 70 and the lower chamber 80 may be configured to be joined to each other by welding with a hot plate or welding with ultrasonic waves. Further, the chamber 61 may be integrally molded from the beginning.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, each portion of the lower chamber 80 is formed to be thicker than that of the upper chamber 70, and the lower chamber 80 is formed. Is greater than the mass of the upper chamber 70. By configuring the lower chamber 80 to be larger than the mass of the upper chamber 70 in this way, when the foaming widget 300 is floated in the beverage, the ejection hole 82a is located below the liquid level of the beverage. become. Therefore, when the beverage container is opened, the gas in the accommodation space S3 is always injected into the beverage through the ejection hole 82a. Therefore, the beverage can be reliably foamed.

Further, as the beverage to be filled in the beverage container, a carbonated beverage such as beer is suitable as in the first embodiment. Further, also in the present embodiment, when the foaming widget 300 is housed in the beverage container by configuring the outer shell portion 82 of the lower chamber 80 to have a flatter shape than the outer shell portion 72 of the upper chamber 70. The height of the head space can be reduced.

The procedure for foaming the beverage in the beverage container by the foaming widget 300 according to the present embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment except for steps S104 and S107 in FIG. Therefore, here, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

When the pressure inside the beverage container rises due to the attachment of the lid to the beverage container (step S102 in FIG. 2) (step S103), it is outside the pressure inside the accommodation space S3 of the foaming widget 300 (inside the beverage container). Since the pressure in the beverage container is higher, the gas in the beverage container is introduced into the accommodation space S3 from the upper end of the central cylinder portion 74 via the intake flow path 74a (step S104). At this time, there is a path through which the liquid beverage enters the accommodation space S3 through the ejection hole 82a, but in the present embodiment, the flow path area of the ejection hole 82a is smaller than the flow path area of the intake flow path 74a. It is configured. In addition, the liquid beverage has a larger flow resistance when passing through the flow path than the gas in the beverage container which is a gas. Therefore, very little beverage enters the accommodation space S3 from the ejection hole 82a, and most of the accommodation space S3 is filled with the gas in the beverage container.

When the beverage container is opened by the consumer (step S106), the pressure inside the beverage container is released to atmospheric pressure at once. At this time, the pressure in the accommodation space S3 becomes higher than the pressure in the beverage container, and a positive pressure is generated in the accommodation space S3 in the chamber 61. The outer shell portion 72 of the upper chamber 70 is pressed upward by the positive pressure in the accommodation space S3, but the fitting portion 73 is firmly fixed to the lower chamber 80 as described above. Therefore, as shown by the white arrows in FIG. 4B, the radial inner portion of the outer shell portion 72 moves upward due to the elastic deformation of the outer shell portion 72. As a result, the central cylinder portion 74 of the upper chamber 70 also moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion 84, and the protruding portion 74b of the central cylinder portion 74 presses the upper end portion of the recess 84c. As a result, the intake flow path 74a is closed (step S107), and the gas under positive pressure in the accommodation space S3 is ejected from the ejection hole 82a into the beverage at a predetermined flow rate (step S108).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the positive pressure in the chamber 61 elastically deforms the outer shell portion 72 above the chamber 61, so that the central cylinder portion 74 is upward with respect to the central pillar portion 84. Configured to move. As a result, the sliding portion of the foaming widget 300 can be reduced, so that the reliability of the foaming widget 300 during operation can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the outer shell portion 72 above the chamber 61 is configured to be inclined downward in a stepwise manner toward the outer side in the radial direction. As a result, while ensuring a predetermined rigidity in the outer shell portion 72, the angle of each stepped portion is opened, so that the radial inner portion connected to the central tubular portion 74 can be easily moved upward. Therefore, the central cylinder portion 74 can be displaced upward to close the intake flow path 74a without generating an excessive stress on the outer shell portion 72.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and modifications based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each component can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and a plurality of components can be combined or divided into one. It should be understood that these are also included in the scope of the present invention.

1 Chamber 10 Upper chamber 12 Outer part 13 Fitting part 13a Inner peripheral surface 13b Lower surface 13c Engagement protrusion (engagement part)
14 Central cylinder part 14a Intake flow path 14b Protruding part 16 Peripheral wall 20 Lower chamber 22 Outer part 22a Ejection hole 23 Peripheral wall 24 Central pillar part 24a Tip part 24b Bottomed hole 24c Recessed recess 26 Fitting step part (fitting part)
26a Outer peripheral surface 26b Upper surface 26d Engagement recess (engagement part)
31 Chamber 40 Upper chamber 42 Outer part 43 Fitting part 43a Inner peripheral surface 43b Lower surface 43c Engagement protrusion (engagement part)
44 Central cylinder 44a Intake flow path 44b Protruding part 46 Peripheral wall 50 Lower chamber 52 Outer part 52a Ejection hole 53 Peripheral wall 54 Central pillar part 54c Recessed part 56 Fitting step part (fitting part)
56a Outer peripheral surface 56b Upper surface 56d Engagement recess (engagement part)
61 Chamber 70 Upper chamber 72 Outer part 73 Fitting part 73a Inner peripheral surface 73b Lower surface 73c Engagement protrusion (engagement part)
74 Central cylinder 74a Intake flow path 74b Protruding part 76 Peripheral wall 80 Lower chamber 82 Outer part 82a Ejection hole 83 Peripheral wall 84 Central pillar part 84a Tip part 84b Bottomed hole 84c Recessed part 86 Fitting step part (fitting part)
86a Outer peripheral surface 86b Upper surface 86d Engagement recess (engagement part)
100,200,300 Foaming widget O axis S1, S2, S3 Storage space

Claims (9)

The chamber that forms the gas storage space and
An effervescent widget with a ejection hole formed in the lower part of the chamber.
The chamber has an intake flow extending downward from the upper part of the chamber and extending upward from the lower part of the chamber to allow the introduction of gas from the outside between the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder part. It has a central pillar that forms a road,
Due to the positive pressure in the chamber, the central cylinder portion moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion, so that a part of the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion. A foaming widget characterized in that the intake flow path is blocked. The foaming widget according to claim 1, wherein the flow path area of the intake flow path is larger than the flow path area of the ejection hole. The foaming widget according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber includes an upper chamber having the central cylinder portion and a lower chamber having the central pillar portion. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a recess forming the intake flow path is provided on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder portion. Widget for foaming. On the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder or the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar, a protruding portion that abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the central pillar or the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder and blocks the intake flow path. The foaming widget according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein is formed. The upper chamber and the lower chamber have a pair of fitting portions that are slidably fitted to each other.
Due to the positive pressure in the chamber, the fitting portion on the upper chamber side moves upward with respect to the fitting portion on the lower chamber side, so that the central cylinder portion is upward with respect to the central pillar portion. The foaming widget according to claim 3, which moves to. The foaming widget according to claim 6, wherein the pair of fitting portions has an engaging portion that restricts the upward movement of the upper chamber. Any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the central cylinder portion moves upward with respect to the central pillar portion by elastically deforming the outer shell portion above the chamber due to the positive pressure in the chamber. The foaming widget described in the section. The foaming widget according to claim 8, wherein the outer shell portion above the chamber is inclined downward in a stepwise manner toward the outer side in the radial direction.

Images